2009 (Sophomore): Second team all-America by CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele's College Football . . . third team all-America by the Associated Press . . . first team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first team all-Big Ten by Sporting News and Phil Steele's College Football . . . one of 12 semi-finalists for Jim Thorpe Award . . . Coaches Appreciation Award, Defense . . . named to cbssports.com Mid-Season all-America team . . . National Defensive Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Award committee vs. Iowa State and Indiana . . . Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week vs. Indiana . . . Started all 13 games and has 21 consecutive starts among his 24 career starts . . . ranked third on team with 85 tackles, including 41 solo stops . . . led team with six interceptions for 203 yards and one touchdown . . . also had six pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and 5.5 tackles for loss . . . started at strong safety in 17-16 win over Northern Iowa . . . recorded 10 tackles vs. UNI, including three solo stops and seven assists . . . also shared a tackle for loss and had one pass break-up . . . started at strong safety in 35-3 win at Iowa State as defense collected six turnovers . . . tied Iowa school record with three pass interceptions at Iowa State, collecting 63 returns yards . . . also had 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and forced an ISU fumble . . . started at strong safety in saw action in 27-17 win over Arizona, but had no statistics as defense allowed 105 passing yards and 253 yards total offense . . . started at strong safety in 27-17 win over Arizona as defense allowed just 105 passing yards and 253 yards total offense . . . recorded five tackles (three solo, two assists) vs. Arizona, along with interception and 41-yard return that led to Iowa field goal . . . has collected seven interceptions in last five games . . . started at strong safety in 21-10 win at Penn State . . . recorded two solo tackles and three assists at PSU . . . started at strong safety in 24-21 win over Arkansas State as defense allowed just 80 net rushing yards . . . had eight tackles vs. ASU, including five solo stops . . . also had 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass interception and return of 13 yards that led to an Iowa touchdown . . . started at strong safety in 30-28 win over Michigan . . . recorded nine tackles vs. Wolverines, including four solo stops and five assisted tackles, along with two pass break-ups . . . started at strong safety in 20-10 win at Wisconsin at defense allowed just 87 rushing yards and 243 yards total offense . . . recorded five solo tackles vs. Badgers, including one tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in 15-13 win at Michigan State as defense allowed just 85 net rushing yards . . . recorded five tackles vs. MSU, including two solo stops and three assists and a forced fumble . . . started at strong safety in 42-24 win over Indiana as defense allowed just 79 net rushing yards overall and just three points in the second half . . . recorded two solo tackles and five assists vs. Hoosiers, including a shared tackle for loss . . . had defensive play of the game with an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third period after a pass was deflected and tipped his direction . . . return ranks as fifth longest in school history . . . started at strong safety in 17-10 loss to Northwestern as defense allowed just 10 points and 239 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo tackles and four assists vs. Wildcats . . . also had four punt returns for 16 yards, the first of his career . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 overtime loss at Ohio State . . . recorded three solo tackles and three assists at OSU . . . started at strong safety in 12-0 win over Minnesota as defense allowed just 48 rushing yards and 201 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo tackles, six assists and one pass break-up vs. Gophers . . . started at strong safety in 24-14 Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 12 passing yards and 155 yards total offense.

2008 (Freshman): Named Big Ten Top Defensive Freshman by Rivals.com... second team Freshman all-American by Rivals.com . . . third team Freshman all-American by Phil Steele's College Football . . . Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week vs. Penn State . . . 2008 - - Recorded 53 tackles during the season, including 28 solo stops and 25 assists . . . tied for team lead with five interceptions and had six pass break-ups . . . ranked first in the Big Ten and tied for 19th in the nation in interceptions per game (.42) . . . listed as third team strong safety following spring practice . . . saw limited action in 46-3 opening win over Maine as defense allowed just 83 passing yards and 220 yards total offense . . . recorded one pass break-up vs. Maine . . . started at strong safety in 42-0 win over Florida International as defense allowed just 56 rushing yards and 218 yards total offense . . . recorded one solo tackle and three assists vs. FIU in first career start . . . started at strong safety in 17-5 win over Iowa State as defense allowed just 73 rushing yards . . . recorded career-high 10 tackles vs. ISU, including two solo tackles and eight assists . . . also had first career interception in the endzone to stop ISU scoring threat and recorded first career QB sack . . . started at strong safety in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh, recording five solo tackles and a forced fumble . . . forced fumble came on Pitt's first offensive play and led to Iowa field goal in the first period . . . did not see action in 22-17 loss to Northwestern due to injury . . . started at strong safety in 16-13 loss at Michigan State as defense held second leading rusher in the nation to 91 net rushing yards . . . recorded five tackles vs. MSU, including four solo stops and one assist . . . added 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass break-ups vs. Spartans . . . started at strong safety in 45-9 win at Indiana as defense allowed just 95 rushing yards and 286 yards total offense . . . recorded three tackles vs. the Hoosiers, including two solo stops and one assist, along with two pass break-ups . . . started at strong safety in 38-16 win over Wisconsin . . . recorded one solo tackle and two assists vs. the Badgers . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 loss at Illinois as defense allowed just 60 net rushing yards . . . recorded seven tackles at Illinois, including three solo stops and three assists . . . also recovered fumble in the fourth quarter that led to game-tying touchdown . . . started at strong safety in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State, earning Big Ten Conference defensive Player of the Week honors . . . recorded eight tackles vs. Penn State, including four solo stops and four assists . . . had pass interception and 14 yard return in the fourth period to set up Iowa's final, game-winning scoring drive, his second straight game with a fourth quarter turnover that led to key Iowa points . . . started at strong safety in 22-17 win over Purdue as defense allowed just 86 net rushing yards . . . recorded one assisted tackle and one pass break-up vs. Purdue . . . started at strong safety in 55-0 win at Minnesota as defense allowed just seven rushing yards and 134 yards total offense . . . recorded three tackles, including two solo stops and one assist, at Minnesota, along with third pass interception of the season and 58-yard return . . . the interception return of 58 yards ranks as the 11th longest in school history . . . started at strong safety in 31-10 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina . . . recorded four solo tackles vs. South Carolina, along with two pass interceptions and 74 yards in interception returns . . . first interception and 26-yard return led to Iowa's second touchdown and a 14-0 first quarter advantage . . . also had 48-yard interception return in second quarter.

2007 (Redshirt): Redshirted.

Personal: Born 5/27/88 . . . Open major . . . four-year member of prep Honor Roll... parents are Barney and Mike Sash . . . high school coach was Darrell Schumacher.

High school honors: Two-time first team all-state, including Elite all-state selection as a senior . . . three-time first team all-district selection . . . third team all-state as a sophomore . . . team captain . . . three-time academic all-district . . . Career - - recorded 137 career tackles, with eight interceptions . . . also played wide receiver in high school . . . holds or is tied for 28 school records, including rushing yards in a game (324), longest touchdown reception (98 yards), most receptions in a career (100), season (49) and game (nine), most touchdowns in a career (63), season (28) and game (seven), receiving yards in a career (2,141), season (1,008) and game (267), touchdown receptions in a career (22), season (12) and game (three) and total career yards (4,310) . . . career rushing totals include 240 attempts for 2,090 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Notes: Set 28 school records as an Iowa prep, playing running back, wide receiver and defensive back. Redshirted in 2007. Played 12 games in '08, starting 11 at strong safety, and registered 53 tackles, six pass breakups and five interceptions with 2½ tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Missed the Northwestern game with an injury. Started all 26 games at strong safety his final two seasons - totaled 85-6-6 (86-yard TD against Indiana) with 5½ tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in '09 and 79-2-2 with 3½ tackles for loss in '10. Also returned four punts for 16 yards (4.0-yard average) as a junior.

Positives: Well-proportioned with good size. Outstanding instincts. Reads and reacts quickly. Drops downhill with urgency and runs the alley. Good pursuit angles. Arrives at full speed and can separate the football - likes contact. Leverages the field and is generally assignment-sound. Very good hands to intercept.

Negatives: Has short arms. Does not have elite top-end speed or closing speed. Average hip flexibility, change of direction and range off the hash. Is not an explosive athlete and lacks burst to recover from missteps. Too often leaves his feet and lowers his head to tackle. Is not an eraser and needs to get stronger - 11 reps of 225 pounds at the Combine. Interception numbers are inflated by tipped balls and overthrows. Limited upside.

Summary: Good-sized, competitive, football-smart strong safety with an aggressive playing temperament who inspires comfort because teams know what they are getting. Is not as athletic as former Hawkeyes safety Sean Considine but projects as a core special-teams player who could work his way into a starting role for a predominantly cover-2 team such as the Bears, Colts or Bengals.